Hot stamp chip printing machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.'

ATTORNEYS.

E. T. KNITTER HOT STAMP CHiP PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 11,

llec 24, 1935.

1366- 1935. E, T. KNITTER HOT STAMP CHIP PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 11, .1932 3 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR.

c7 of 14?"?01? EYS Dec; 24-, 1935. E, T, KNlTTER 2,@25,392

HOT STAMP CHIP PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a o 9 H INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATE OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in a chip stamp-ing press and its principal object is to provide a machine in which chips or discs can be initialed in gold or colored letters in continuous operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a stamping arrangement in which various combinations of letters representing the initials of an individual may be quickly composed; to

use for this purpose a plurality of discs mounted coaxially, having characters formed in the perforations thereof, to provide for means for aligning the characters in the different discs in desired combinations; to provide an improved disc or chip feeding means by which they are successively removed from the stack into the stamping device in timed relation to the stamping operations in such a manner that the individual discs or chips are firmly guided and held, while, at the same time, care is taken that only one disc at a time may be fed into the stamping device; to provide suitable means for heating the stamping device so as to allow gold or other colors to be imprinted on the discs from a ribbon of paper leaf,

an article procurable in the market at the present time; to provide a machine in which intermittent motion is imparted to the paper leaf, so that the same is advanced between the. stamping operations while it is held still during the stamping operation; to combine all the elements hereinbefore mentioned into a compact unit, and to so arrange the different parts that they become operative at the proper times, and that any chance of error is eliminated.

By means of the present invention it is possible to manufacture economically and quickly monogrammed chips such as used in connection with various games, or to manufacture pocket pieces. In the latter case an advertising or lodge inscription will be imprinted on the chips. The simplicity of the machine enables it to be used and operated by unskilled clerks and to be sold to department stores as a piece of equipment for use in their stationary departments.

By a. novel means the machine may be enabled to print only chips of a certain artistic shape, the latter being the subject of a design patent application filed of even date herewith.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Fig. 1 shows a vertical section through the machine taken along line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 a vertical section taken along line III- III of Fi 1;

Fig. 4 a front view of the lower portion of the device;

Fig. 5 a sectional, detail view taken along line V-V of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 a perspective detail view of part of the 5" guide means;

Fig. 7 is a perspective detailed view of the impeller member;

Fig. 8 a detail View taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 2, showing the paper leaf crossing above 10 the chip and with the fiber or resilient mat beheath the chip. It also shows a partial cross section of the three initial discs in place over the chip;

Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged detail views of the 15 adjusting mechanism for aligning the type wheels with the bed plate;

Fig. 11 shows a perspective detailed View of part of the chip or disc guide means.

Fig. 12 shows an enlarged detailed view taken 20 on the line XIIXII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 a detail view of a modified form of stamping device.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My machine consists of the following principal 30 parts: a stamping device, means for feeding individual chips or discs thereinto and means for feeding the ribbon of paper leaf in intermittent motion.

In its structural features my machine com- 35 prises, a frame l, which supports a bed plate 2, and the latter has two walls 3 extending upwardly from one corner section thereof, these walls being formed with tapered grooves, as at 4, and being adapted to slidably receive a plate 5, which carries the stamping mechanism.

The plate 5 has a shaft 6 extending forwardly therefrom, a reduced end l of this shaft passing through the plate and being fastened by means of a nut t. The shaft has a plurality of discs 9 mounted thereon, and each disc is preferably made polygonal and has characters imprinted on the peripheral surface, the number of characters preferably corresponding to the number of letters in the alphabet, so that by adjustment of the three discs shown in the present case relative to one another, any desired combination of three letters or less may be established. Each of the three discs is formed with an annular series of perforations It and these perforations are arranged in such a manner that when three letters on the three discs are brought into proper alignment, the perforations of the three discs will also be aligned so that the three discs may be firmly held in adjusted position relative to one another by means of a pin I I, made to pass through three registering perforations. The pin II is provided with a handle I 2 for facilitating its manipulation.

For the stamping operation, it is necessary that a desired combination of letters be presented downwardly, and to insure correct position of the three discs relatively to the plate 5, the latter is formed with a single perforation I3 directly opposite the lowermost set of perforations in the three discs, so that when the discs are in proper position for a stamping operation, the pin II,"holding the three discs in proper relation, may be pushed on further into the perforation I3, and thereby properly position the three discs relative to the plate 5. It is essential to satisfactory results that the face of the type contact the chip with equal pressure at all points; consequently, the unavoidable slight variations in the various sets of discs make necessary some form of minute adjustment of the discs 9 with relation to the hole I 3, which receives pin I I passing through holes I0 in the plates. To accomplish this, the hole I3 is drilled in a slidable plate .I I0, with a projection II I extending into a slot H2 in the plate 5. The plate H0 is anchored in place by means of the cap screw II3 once it has been positioned by means of the set screws H4, H5 threaded in lugs H6, II! on plate 5.

The rearmost disc 9 has a heating element I4 supported near its rear face, the heating element being connected'to a suitable source of electrical power by means of the wires I5. Rods I60 fastened to plate I20 hold the element I4 snugly against the disc 9.

It will be noted that the adjusting means for the discs thus far described relates to their movement axially about the shaft 6, and for holding the discs in the desired position. It is desirable that the initials be centered on the chip, hence in those cases where one, two or three letters are used it is necessary to shift the set of discs lengthwise on the shaft 6 in order that the printing may appear in the center of the chip. To accomplish this shift of the plates along the shaft 0, I provide a plate I20 out from which extends 4 pins I 2 I. The plate I20 is held in place by means of a threaded shaft I22 extending from the end of, and on a line with shaft 6. A suitable thumb nut I23 is threaded on shaft I22 to urge the plate I20 and pins I 2| against the side of the set of discs 9. Resisting this movement to the plates are two set screws I1 threaded through a plate I8 attached to the'opposite end of shaft 6. Set screws I1 bear against the opposite face of the discs to the pins I2I It can be readily seen that to adjust the discs 9 along the shaft 6, a releasing of thumb nut I23 and screwing downset screws I1 will shift the discs inwardly on the shaft 6. An opposite result can be obtained if set screws I1 are unscrewed and thumb screw I23 screwed down, forcing the plates outwardly on the shaft 6.

For imparting vertical reciprocating motion to the plate 5, I use the following mechanism:

A'shaft I9 is supported transversely in the frame I, and is connected through a pulley 20 with a suitable source of power. A second shaft 22 is supported in the frame in parallel relation to the first shaft, and carries an idler gear 23 which meshes with a pinion 24 on the first shaft,

and with a large gear 25 on a third shaft 26 passing transversely through the frame I, so that rotary motion is transmitted from the shaft I9 through the idler gear 23 to the large gear 25 and its shaft 26. The latter carries an eccentric 21, which operates the plate 5 through a connecting link 28 and cross head 29 operatively connected to the plate 5 through two rods 30, with freedom of adjustment through nuts 3|. It will be seen that, in this manner, when the shaft 26 is rotated, the plate 5 with its stamping mechanism is reciprocated up and down.

The chip feeding device may be described as follows:

A base member 240 is shaped to fit between two upright guide members 35, 36, the latter being attached to the base 2. Formed on one end of the member 240 is a cross member 240a having suitable provision at its ends for the insertion of screws 43 and 45. By means of these screws it is securely positioned on the base plate 2.

A hollow tube, 235 is mounted in the upper part of the base member 240. The inner diameter of the tube 235 conforms to and liesover a hole drilled in the base member 240. The diameter of this hole is sufficient to allow the chips to pass therethrough.

To simplify the loading of the cylinder 235 with chips, there is provided a ring 236 which slides on the outside of the cylinder 235. The ring 236 has formed at one side a guide slot 236a in which slides a member231. The sliding member 231 is slotted and a large-headed pin 238, in fixed relation to the ring 236. is accommodated in the slot therein, the pin thus maintaining the sliding member in functioning position. The sliding member 231 is adapted to project into the cylinder 235 through the slot 236a. By means of the ring 236 and its associated parts the loading of the cylinder is accomplished as follows: The ring 236 is lifted to its extreme upper position with the sliding member 231 projecting into the cylinder. The chips are placed in the cylinder and are supported therein by the sliding member 231. The operator lowers the ring 236 thereby lowering the stack of chips into the cylinder 235. When the ring member 236 has reached its lowermost position the operator retracts the sliding member 231 from within the cylinder and the chips drop a short distance, with the lowermost chip coming to rest on the base 2. The outer end of the slide 231 may be grasped by the operator and such end of the slide may thereby constitute a means for moving it.

In certain cases it is desirable that the machine be confined to use on certain shapes of chips and to accomplish this, a guide member 239 may be formed on the inside of the cylinder 235. The

design of the chip will have a notch in its edge.

to conform to the guide member 239.

To insure that but one chip at a time will be withdrawn from the bottom of the stack and directed to the printing mechanism, the base 240 and cross member 240a are formed to" provide the upper guiding means and the members 208 provide the side guiding means for the pusher plate 50. The pusher plate 50 is of a thickness only slightly greater than the thickness of the chip.

The pusher plate 50 is shown in perspective in lugs are spaced apart to fit in the guide slots BI and also to engage each side of the pusher fingers 60. The pusher fingers 60 by means herein described are reciprocated in the guide slots 6| By means of this connection the pusher plate will be caused to reciprocate beneath the feed cylinder 235.

The guide track, by means of which the chips are conducted from the base of the feed cylinder 235 to the printing mechanism and thence out of the machine is as follows. The base 2 of the machine has mounted thereon two floor members 208. These overlie the base 2 along the guide slots GI and they extend along the base to the point A (see Fig. 12). It is between these members 208 that the pusher member 50 slides. The chips descend by gravity through the cylinder 235 and come to rest on the base 2. The range of reciprocatory movement of the plate 50 is such that in its extreme position to the left (see Figs. 1 and 12) the forked members 500. (see Fig. 7) will have withdrawn to a position to the left of the column of chips thereby permitting the lowermost chip to drop to the base 2 in position to be advanced for the printing operation. In Figure 11 is shown a frame 200 adapted to be inserted from the discharge end of the guide slot to provide a continuation of the guide slot formed by the members 208 and to be held in place on the base 2 by means of the screw I52. The frame 200 is comprised of side members 203, two deflecting members 202, a cross member 20! and a spring member 204. The position this frame occupies can be readily seen in Figs. 1 and 12. In the latter figure, the side members 203 are shown abutting the end of the members 208, thereby providing a path for the advancing chips. The deflecting members 202 insure the passage of the chips along the path.

The position which the chip occupies when the pusher 59 has reached the end of its stroke is shown in Fig. 12 at CP and denotes it in printing position. Here the chip rests flat on the base 2 directly beneath the printing mechanism.

To insure that the chip will not be projected beyond proper printing position the discharge of the chips from the guide slot is slowed up by means of the spring 204.

Positioned above the chip guide slot is a frame illustrated in detail in Fig. 6 comprising two parallel bars 54, two transverse bars overlying the same in spaced relation, and extending beyond the same, and a fifth bar 51 extending into the rectangle from one of the bars 55, so as to lie in the plane of the two bars 54. This rectangular frame is supported on the two guide bars 39 and 42 so that the extensions of the two bars 55 lie on the guide bars. The three bars 54 and 5'! lie between the guide bars, leaving only sufficient space between the same and the bed .plate to allow a chip to pass underneath the frame. This frame is fastened to the two guide bars 39 and 42 by means of screws 58 and springs 50 bearing on the extensions of the bars 55, so that the frame is capable of a slight upward yielding and exerts a spring pressure on the chips passing underneath. The main purpose of the bars 50 in this structure, however, may be seen by referring to Fig. 8, wherein they are shown supporting the printing strip above the chips.

For advancing the pusher 50, already referred to, there is used a pair of pushers 50 rising through a pair of slots 5d,.which extend through the bed plate from left to right to a point substantially in line with the inner end of the bar 51 of the frame the ends of the slots 6 I allowing the pushers to advance sufficiently for the purpose described. The two pushers are supported on a cross member 62 which is slidable on a pair of rods 63 supported underneath the bed plate, and the cross member 62 is reciprocated by means of a connecting link 64 and an arm 65, fixed to the shaft 22, which latter receives rocking motion from the shaft. 26 through the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, including an arm 66 fixed to the shaft 22, and a link 61, connecting the free end of the arm 66 with a pin 68 projecting eccentrically from a disc 09 mounted on the shaft 26.

It will be seen that in this manner the shaft 25 through the link 61, causes the shaft 22 to rock back and forth, which rocking motion causes the arm and the connecting link 64 to reciprocate the cross bar 62 on the rods 63, thereby causing the pushers B0 to move back and. forth in the slots 6|.

The proper position of the chip beneath the printing discs 9 is, of course, controlled by the distance the pusher member 50 advances the chip along the guide channel. In Fig. 12, the dotted lines show the end of the stroke of the pusher 50. The deflecting members 202 will have guided it into position on the bed plate 2. Adjusting means are provided to vary the end of the stroke of the pusher plate 50. These are shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and in this position the arm 66 is adjustably mounted on the shaft 22. In Fig. 4 is shown a preferred manner of constructing this adjustable mounting, and consists of a worm and pinion, the pinion I30 being fastened on shaft 22 and the worm I3l being suitably mounted on the end of arm 60 to engage the pinion. A knurled knob I32 is placed on the end of the worm shank I33. A set screw I34 is positioned on the arm 66 to clamp together the latters split bearing and bind it to shaft 22 when the correct adjustment has been obtained by means of the worm and pinion.

For imprinting the characters on the chips I use a ribbon of paper leaf, a product well known in the market, and used at the present time for imprinting gold letters on books and for similar purposes. Thus far it has not been known to provide a machine to print monograms on chips. I find that by using in my machine the paper leaf with a heated stamp, I not only can print a definite number of chips much more rapidly than can 7 be done by any other means but that the work is much more satisfactory and more economical.

For feeding the ribbon or tape into the machine, I arrange a spool 10 of this ribbon on a rod 1| supported in front of the machine, the spool being held on the rod on one side by a collar and set screw 14, the spring tending to place the spool under tension so that it will not revolve too readily. From this spool the ribbon is guided over the bed plate and under the stamping device and between the guides 15, and is received rearwardly of the bed plate between two rollers 15 and '16, the former being a large roller made of fairly soft rubber, and the latter being preferably a metal roller which is made to press the ribbon against the rubber roller. The metal roller 16 is supported in two levers 17, which latter are pivoted on a shaft 18 running alongside the rear edge of the bed plate, and are acted on by a spring 18', acting through rod I39, on the end of which is a nut M0 to give a selective pressure to roller 15.

Intermittent movement is imparted to the roller 15 through the following mechanism: a lever 19 is mounted on a short pin fastened to the base I. A roller 82 is carried by wheel 8| mounted on shaft 26. Roller 82 lifts lever 19 on each revolution. The distance which lever 19 is allowed to fall on each reciprocation is controlled by a screw 83, which engagesthe short end of the lever I9. Through a suitable toggle and lever connection 84 movement of lever 19 is transmitted to lever 85 which carries pawl 86 for engagement with ratchet 81 attached to roller 15. Bylengthening the traverse of lever 19, the amount of ribbon or tape fed under the dies can be increased, and by shortening the traverse it can be decreased. Pawl 85' is attached to the frame and holds ratchet 81 in place while pawl 86 is drawn back.

The operation of my machine will be understood from the following description:

Assuming that the initials ABC are to be stamped on the chips, the operator first pulls out the pin .I I from the discs and loosens the set screws I1 so that the discs are now freely movable relative to one another. He then brings the three letters ABC on the three discs in the desired alignment, preferably watching the discs from above so that the three letters are exposed at the top of the discs. He then inserts his pin II through the three perforations corresponding to the three letters that have been brought into alignment, whereupon he revolves the three discs by 180 degrees, whereby the pin I I is brought opposite .the perforation I3 in the plate III]. He now pushes the pin into the perforation, so that the letters are now presented in proper position at the bottom of the discs. In case it is necessary to adjust the discs on the shaft 6, the operator does so by manipulating the set screws I23 and I1.

In case it is now found that the lowermost set of letters does not contact the bed plate evenly at all points, they can be made to do so by means of the adjustment device shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The hole I3, into which pin I I fits, is moved one way or the other by means of the set screws I I4, H5 until the discs 9 have been rotated the small amount necessary to bring sufficient contact between the lowermost set of letters and the bed plate.

A stack of chips is placed in the feed cylinder 235 and the ribbon is guided over the bed plate so as to be received between the rollers 15 and 16, at which time the machine is ready for operation. As the power is applied to the shaft I9, rotary motion is transmitted through the idler 23 to the large gear wheel 25 which causes the plate 5 to reciprocate through the eccentric 21,- the connecting link 28 and the cross head 29.

In Fig. 1, the stamping device is shown in its uppermost position, ready to come" down for a printing operation. The pusher plate 50 is shown in its most advanced position, and has just delivered a chip into printing position. The ribbon actuating lever 19 is in its uppermost position, and has just advanced the ribbon so as to expose an unused piece thereof below the stamp. As the revolving motion of the shaft 26 is continued, the stamping device descends, and causes the letters ABC to be stamped through the ribbon on the chip. During this, same part of the operation, the pusher plate 50 has been returned to its most rearward position back of the stack of chips, and the lever 19 has returned to its lowermost position, causing the rod 84 to descend out its travel to the guide slot and bed plate by the spring tension frames. Each chip is projected over the edge of the machine, after it has been stamped, by the new chips as they come into position.

After the chips have been printed on one side,

as above described'they are again inserted in said cylinder 235 in an inverted position and the above operation repeated so that the monogram will appear on both sides of the chip.

As previously suggested, where it is desired to 20.

print on the chips an advertisement or a coat of arms or similar insignia, a conventional printing unit can be substituted for the disc arrangement thus far described. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 13.

The plate 5' is slidably mounted in the walls or posts 3, and has a shaft 6' extending there- 7 from. The printing unit I 90 is suspended from this shaft, and may be axially adjusted by manipulation of the set screw I1 extending through 30 the plate I8 fastened to the end of the shaft 6'. An aligning hole I6 takes the place of the perforations II) in fixing the printing unit relative to the plate 5'. The printing unit consists of a hanger IOI having a bottom flange I02 to which v is fastened the type frame I03, a heating unit I4 being interposed between the flange and the type frame.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly, that the materials and finishes of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. In a printing machine, the combination of a chip feeding means comprisinga feed cylinder having a slot extending lengthwise thereof,

a ring surrounding and slidable upon said cylinder, and a retractile pin carried by said ring and adapted to project into said cylinder through the aforementioned slot.

2. In a printing machine, the combination of a chip feeding means comprising a feed cylinder, and means movable lengthwise of and within said cylinder to support and lower chipsfed into said cylinder.

3. In a printing machine, the combination of a, chip feeding means comprising a feed cylinder, means movable lengthwise of and within said cylinder to support and. lower chips fed into said cylinder, and means to move said means out of '65 the line of discharge of said chips from said cylinder.

7 ELMER THEODORE KNI'I'I'ER. 

